Head coach Tom Barbee and assistant Eric Vanderhorst return for their sixth season together as coaches of the Covington wrestling team. Tom previously coached the team from 1980-89, a span during which the Buccs won four district titles and a regional title. Eric wrestled for Covington from 1989-92 and was a state qualifier, district champion and sectional champion.

The Buccaneers are looking to build upon the experience gained from last season, where they placed 4th out of 14 teams at Sectionals and finished with a 13-10 dual meet record. Last year’s team had a lot of upperclassman, although many of the wrestlers had only a couple of years of experience. This year’s group, in contrast, is primarily made up of underclassman, but their overall experience level is greater.

Seniors Ben Adams, Brandon Hartzell, Mitchell Herron and Ezra Mohler will lead the team this year and are among eleven wrestlers returning from last year’s team. Also returning are sophomores Logan Brown, Brian Ely, Josh Mahan, C.J. Potter, Jordan tebbe, Ryan Vanderhorst and Bobby Wiltshire. Adams and Brown are returning District qualifiers, while Tebbe is a returning Sectional placer. New to the team are junior Justin Ownes, sophomore Ritchie Watkins, and freshman Michael Corkhum, Justin Mahan and Ryan White.

Good luck to the 2003-04 Buccaneers as they add to the school’s rich wrestling tradition.